Stainless steel 201,304,316,430 What is the difference

2025-02-21

Component distinction

Type	Main component (typical value)	characteristics
201	Chromium (16-18%), nickel (3.5-5.5%), manganese (5.5-7.5%)	nickel content is low, with manganese and nitrogen to replace part of the nickel, the cost is lower
304	Chromium (18-20%), nickel (8-10.5%)	nickel content is high, with excellent corrosion resistance and formability
316	Chromium (16-18%), nickel (10-14%), molybdenum (2-3%)	added molybdenum element, corrosion resistance is stronger, especially resistance to chloride ion corrosion
430	chromium (16-18%), carbon (≤0.12%)	nickel free ferritic stainless steel, nickel free, low cost, but poor corrosion resistance

type	Corrosion resistance	intensity	toughness	magnetism	High temperature resistance
201	General	higher	preferably	Weak magnetism	normal
304	excellent	intermediate	excellent	nonmagnetic	preferably
316	Excellent (especially resistant to chloride ion corrosion)	intermediate	excellent	nonmagnetic	preferably
430	worse	higher	range	magnetic	magnetic

Type	Main application areas
201	Low-cost decorative materials, household items, kitchenware, door and window frames, etc
304	Food processing equipment, medical equipment, kitchen equipment, building decoration, chemical equipment, etc
316	Marine equipment, seawater treatment equipment, chemical equipment, medical equipment, high temperature environment equipment, etc
430	household appliances (such as washing machine inner tube), architectural decoration, automobile exhaust pipe, structural parts in low corrosion environment, etc

Features	201	304	316	430
Corrosion resistance	normal	excellent	excellent	range
intensity	higher	intermediate	intermediate	higher
toughness	preferably	excellent	excellent	range
magnetism	Weak magnetism	nonmagnetic	nonmagnetic	magnetic
cost	lower	higher	The highest	minimum
Typical application	Decoration, home furnishing	Food, medical, chemical	Oceans, chemicals, high temperatures	Home appliances, construction

201: Suitable for scenarios with limited budget and low corrosion resistance requirements.

304: Suitable for most daily and industrial applications, cost-effective.

316: Suitable for highly corrosive environments, such as Marine or chemical applications.

430: Suitable for low cost, low corrosion environment, and require magnetic scenarios.